Outlook Automation

1---
2name: outlook-automation
3description: "Automate Outlook tasks via Rube MCP (Composio): emails, calendar, contacts, folders, attachments. Always search tools first for current schemas."
4requires:
5  mcp: [rube]
6---
7 
8# Outlook Automation via Rube MCP
9 
10Automate Microsoft Outlook operations through Composio's Outlook toolkit via Rube MCP.
11 
12## Prerequisites
13 
14- Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)
15- Active Outlook connection via `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `outlook`
16- Always call `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` first to get current tool schemas
17 
18## Setup
19 
20**Get Rube MCP**: Add `https://rube.app/mcp` as an MCP server in your client configuration. No API keys needed — just add the endpoint and it works.
21 
22 
231. Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` responds
242. Call `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `outlook`
253. If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete Microsoft OAuth
264. Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows
27 
28## Core Workflows
29 
30### 1. Search and Filter Emails
31 
32**When to use**: User wants to find specific emails across their mailbox
33 
34**Tool sequence**:
351. `OUTLOOK_SEARCH_MESSAGES` - Search with KQL syntax across all folders [Required]
362. `OUTLOOK_GET_MESSAGE` - Get full message details [Optional]
373. `OUTLOOK_LIST_OUTLOOK_ATTACHMENTS` - List message attachments [Optional]
384. `OUTLOOK_DOWNLOAD_OUTLOOK_ATTACHMENT` - Download attachment [Optional]
39 
40**Key parameters**:
41- `query`: KQL search string (from:, to:, subject:, received:, hasattachment:)
42- `from_index`: Pagination start (0-based)
43- `size`: Results per page (max 25)
44- `message_id`: Message ID (use hitId from search results)
45 
46**Pitfalls**:
47- Only works with Microsoft 365/Enterprise accounts (not @hotmail.com/@outlook.com)
48- Pagination relies on hitsContainers[0].moreResultsAvailable; stop only when false
49- Use hitId from search results as message_id for downstream calls, not resource.id
50- Index latency: very recent emails may not appear immediately
51- Inline images appear as attachments; filter by mimetype for real documents
52 
53### 2. Query Emails in a Folder
54 
55**When to use**: User wants to list emails in a specific folder with OData filters
56 
57**Tool sequence**:
581. `OUTLOOK_LIST_MAIL_FOLDERS` - List mail folders to get folder IDs [Prerequisite]
592. `OUTLOOK_QUERY_EMAILS` - Query emails with structured filters [Required]
60 
61**Key parameters**:
62- `folder`: Folder name ('inbox', 'sentitems', 'drafts') or folder ID
63- `filter`: OData filter (e.g., `isRead eq false and importance eq 'high'`)
64- `top`: Max results (1-1000)
65- `orderby`: Sort field and direction
66- `select`: Array of fields to return
67 
68**Pitfalls**:
69- QUERY_EMAILS searches a SINGLE folder only; use SEARCH_MESSAGES for cross-folder search
70- Custom folders require folder IDs, not display names; use LIST_MAIL_FOLDERS
71- Always check response['@odata.nextLink'] for pagination
72- Cannot filter by recipient or body content; use SEARCH_MESSAGES for that
73 
74### 3. Manage Calendar Events
75 
76**When to use**: User wants to list, search, or inspect calendar events
77 
78**Tool sequence**:
791. `OUTLOOK_LIST_EVENTS` - List events with filters [Optional]
802. `OUTLOOK_GET_CALENDAR_VIEW` - Get events in a time window [Optional]
813. `OUTLOOK_GET_EVENT` - Get specific event details [Optional]
824. `OUTLOOK_LIST_CALENDARS` - List available calendars [Optional]
835. `OUTLOOK_GET_SCHEDULE` - Get free/busy info [Optional]
84 
85**Key parameters**:
86- `filter`: OData filter (use start/dateTime, NOT receivedDateTime)
87- `start_datetime`/`end_datetime`: ISO 8601 for calendar view
88- `timezone`: IANA timezone (e.g., 'America/New_York')
89- `calendar_id`: Optional non-primary calendar ID
90- `select`: Fields to return
91 
92**Pitfalls**:
93- Use calendar event properties only (start/dateTime, end/dateTime), NOT email properties (receivedDateTime)
94- Calendar view requires start_datetime and end_datetime
95- Recurring events need `expand_recurring_events=true` to see individual occurrences
96- Decline status is per-attendee via attendees[].status.response
97 
98### 4. Manage Contacts
99 
100**When to use**: User wants to list, create, or organize contacts
101 
102**Tool sequence**:
1031. `OUTLOOK_LIST_CONTACTS` - List contacts [Optional]
1042. `OUTLOOK_CREATE_CONTACT` - Create a new contact [Optional]
1053. `OUTLOOK_GET_CONTACT_FOLDERS` - List contact folders [Optional]
1064. `OUTLOOK_CREATE_CONTACT_FOLDER` - Create contact folder [Optional]
107 
108**Key parameters**:
109- `givenName`/`surname`: Contact name
110- `emailAddresses`: Array of email objects
111- `displayName`: Full display name
112- `contact_folder_id`: Optional folder for contacts
113 
114**Pitfalls**:
115- Contact creation supports many fields but only givenName or surname is needed
116 
117### 5. Manage Mail Folders
118 
119**When to use**: User wants to organize mail folders
120 
121**Tool sequence**:
1221. `OUTLOOK_LIST_MAIL_FOLDERS` - List top-level folders [Required]
1232. `OUTLOOK_LIST_CHILD_MAIL_FOLDERS` - List subfolders [Optional]
1243. `OUTLOOK_CREATE_MAIL_FOLDER` - Create a new folder [Optional]
125 
126**Key parameters**:
127- `parent_folder_id`: Well-known name or folder ID
128- `displayName`: New folder name
129- `include_hidden_folders`: Show hidden folders
130 
131**Pitfalls**:
132- Well-known folder names: 'inbox', 'sentitems', 'drafts', 'deleteditems', 'junkemail', 'archive'
133- Custom folder operations require the folder ID, not display name
134 
135## Common Patterns
136 
137### KQL Search Syntax
138 
139**Property filters**:
140- `from:user@example.com` - From sender
141- `to:recipient@example.com` - To recipient
142- `subject:invoice` - Subject contains
143- `received>=2025-01-01` - Date filter
144- `hasattachment:yes` - Has attachments
145 
146**Combinators**:
147- `AND` - Both conditions
148- `OR` - Either condition
149- Parentheses for grouping
150 
151### OData Filter Syntax
152 
153**Email filters**:
154- `isRead eq false` - Unread emails
155- `importance eq 'high'` - High importance
156- `hasAttachments eq true` - Has attachments
157- `receivedDateTime ge 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z` - Date filter
158 
159**Calendar filters**:
160- `start/dateTime ge '2025-01-01T00:00:00Z'` - Events after date
161- `contains(subject, 'Meeting')` - Subject contains text
162 
163## Known Pitfalls
164 
165**Account Types**:
166- SEARCH_MESSAGES requires Microsoft 365/Enterprise accounts
167- Personal accounts (@hotmail.com, @outlook.com) have limited API access
168 
169**Field Confusion**:
170- Email properties (receivedDateTime) differ from calendar properties (start/dateTime)
171- Do NOT use email fields in calendar queries or vice versa
172 
173## Quick Reference
174 
175| Task | Tool Slug | Key Params |
176|------|-----------|------------|
177| Search emails | OUTLOOK_SEARCH_MESSAGES | query, from_index, size |
178| Query folder | OUTLOOK_QUERY_EMAILS | folder, filter, top |
179| Get message | OUTLOOK_GET_MESSAGE | message_id |
180| List attachments | OUTLOOK_LIST_OUTLOOK_ATTACHMENTS | message_id |
181| Download attachment | OUTLOOK_DOWNLOAD_OUTLOOK_ATTACHMENT | message_id, attachment_id |
182| List folders | OUTLOOK_LIST_MAIL_FOLDERS | (none) |
183| Child folders | OUTLOOK_LIST_CHILD_MAIL_FOLDERS | parent_folder_id |
184| List events | OUTLOOK_LIST_EVENTS | filter, timezone |
185| Calendar view | OUTLOOK_GET_CALENDAR_VIEW | start_datetime, end_datetime |
186| Get event | OUTLOOK_GET_EVENT | event_id |
187| List calendars | OUTLOOK_LIST_CALENDARS | (none) |
188| Free/busy | OUTLOOK_GET_SCHEDULE | schedules, times |
189| List contacts | OUTLOOK_LIST_CONTACTS | top, filter |
190| Create contact | OUTLOOK_CREATE_CONTACT | givenName, emailAddresses |
191| Contact folders | OUTLOOK_GET_CONTACT_FOLDERS | (none) |
192